Gareth Ainsworth brings up Wrexham as he says NO to the National League’s 3 up 3 down plans

Shrewsbury Town boss Gareth Ainsworth brings up Wrexham as he says NO to the National League’s 3 up 3 down plans this week.

He spoke on the BBC Radio 5 Live Sport’s 72+ EFL podcast, with the topic of conversation being brought up, while listing some other well-backed clubs, he specifically chose to explain more about Wrexham.

This is voicing his annoyance at being unable to compete with them financially. Here’s what he had to say on it…

“Obviously we are not going to vote for it.” ❌

“Should we not look after our own teams?” 🤷

Shrewsbury Town manager Gareth Ainsworth on the National League’s 3UP campaign ↕️#BBCFootball #Salop #BBCEFL pic.twitter.com/Jw27rCBkAD

— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) February 6, 2025

Gareth Ainsworth: “Obviously, we’re not gonna vote for it. Who in the right mind in the EFL will be the vote for for, you know, three down, three up?

“But that National League, believe me, very strong. And often the team that do come up. They compete well.

“And I think that’s a big argument point for them saying, look at your records, look at your Chesterfields of yours, look at your, you know, Stockports, you know.

“They’ve all kicked on, but it could kill some really, really big league teams. You know, you Oldhams and your Torquays. They’ve really found it difficult getting back in.

“Should we not look after our teams that you know, we keep going on about the teams that are struggling. We should look after our pyramid better.

“And the teams if a team just can’t keep up financially, but no other reason than the other teams have got billionaires coming in a million is that we it’s not fair that they just sink out the league and out of obscurity.

“It then becomes all about money. Reps and have only done that because of the money they’ve they’ve had, you know. And, of course, they’re competing well, but they’ve had billionaire owners in, and it’s not fair.

“I don’t think that it should just be about that. And I’m speaking as an advocate from a club with a local businessman who who’s put his money in, and he just can’t compete with Rex and because we’re not bringing American billionaires in.

“So my argument would be, yes. These teams have done well, but have a look at the money that they’ve had invested in them as well.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Gareth Ainsworth brings up Wrexham as he says NO to the National League’s 3 up 3 down plans…

@catchingthem: Gareth plays horrid anti football football and he is also anti football full stop. Give them the 3 rd spot simple as that.

@richscottmedia: Poor teams in the EFL constantly just about stay up while excellent National League sides can’t promoted because it’s such a bottleneck- look at Wrexham and Notts County the other season, would have been a travesty if Notts didn’t win the playoffs.

@TerryFCFCSmith: Should have 3 up 3 down in all leagues in my opinion

@Owene2220: If you looked after your own teams they wouldn’t be threatened by relegation or financial issue constantly that’s how a lot of the bigger ones have fallen apart 😂

@rickard_louie: Always disliked him. His argument is “look at your Torquays and Oldham” when they’d have found it easier to get back up if there was 3 up 3 down.

@jonesr87: Why don’t we make national league, league three? Genuine question don’t know pros and cons? Other than…. Financial

@WAFCtabs: Awful take. Every league should be 3 up 3 down. Including non-league. It’s only fair and by having that extra promotion place, it would also help your oldhams and torquays. If clubs are run well, recruit well etc. even going into non-league won’t be that bad.

@Red1864Red: Ah yes, Wrexham’s fault you’re in a relegation battle! 😅 If it wasn’t for bad owners we’d have never dropped out the FL. And if it was 3 up, 3 down, we’d have been back in the FL a lot sooner. Learn your history.

@colinread59: Stockport and Wrexham aren’t typical examples of teams coming up, Forest Green are back down, morecambe could join them, although as a Tranmere fan I do think it should be 3 up, Just in case

@WrexhamFan3: Who in their right mind would vote for it? Any EFL team that has been trapped in NL or could be relegated to NL (all). An addl spot up means better odds of promotion and not languishing. Shrewsbury should support bc they are on track for relegation to L2 (one step closer to NL)!

@StokeHatter: Strange take on it. Surely teams like Torquay, Oldham etc.. is the reason should be 3 up 3 down to prevent the bottleneck below. Disappointing attitude – it would undoubtedly improve the quality of League 2.

@GlennMoore7: Years ago (early 2000s) the Kidderminster chairman told me exactly the same. They were then in the league. He’d vote for it now. More likely to go down, but also easier to get back.

@NFFCmatthew: He’s obviously worried that Shrewsbury Town will finish in the bottom 3 in league 2 next season and increase the chances of relegation if becomes a 3 up 3 down

@BenNFFC99: It’s all about greed. League clubs can act like the poor innocent victims when it comes to how much sky money they receive but are treating non league teams the same way in this situation

@Christianjw92: So why should national league teams be denied the opportunity to progress because some EFL teams can’t get their house in order?

@springvalered: Why have 4 down in league 1 ? Should be 3 down in line with Premier league and championship

@DJames1892: Neither owner is a billionaire.

@fcislocheng: 3 UP 3 DOWN means yes you’re more likely to go down but you’re also less likely to get stuck in the Conference for years and years if you do.

@Statto_74: The standard of the National League is so strong why doesn’t the Football League take it over? Add all 3 divisions to the current structure. In many cases the stadia are better, the crowds are bigger.

@Ryan7Morris: Poor take on it. Clubs such as your Oldhams, Torquays would have more chance of returning to the league. This change should have been done years ago. You could argue NL is stronger at present.

@clegg_mc: Said it a million times. Combine league 2 and the conference. Have a north and south to save on costs as crowd arent huge. Loads of local derbies. Its the way forward.

@SamY4t35: Poor this from ainsworth. Weird you’d think EFL clubs would be on board, given the gulf in quality between the prem and the efl right now, they know the system is rigged against them. Surely you can extend some empathy to the national league because of that

@joshwilliamsDNO: Wrexham have got billionaire owners and it’s just not fair 😂😂😂😂 fucking cry baby

@tejrogers: What an awful take on things. Year on year people like Gareth talk about the quality improving in the National League and poach players from there but don’t want to take the next step that will if anything make an extremely stagnant league two more competitive. It has to happen.

@PaulCarrott3: Love Gareth, but I can’t agree with him here. The best proposal I’ve seen for modernising football was one suggesting 5 divisions all of 20 teams, all 3 up 3 down, with the National League effectively becoming Football League 3. The current structure is inconsistent and outdated.

@NicoYork: Stayed up with Wycombe on goal difference in 2014 and celebrated it like a title win, he knows how difficult it is to get out once you’re in….what an absolute penis, never liked him

@Hwxm2004: Not fair Wrexham have money? What about every other team in the leagues that have invested owners? Are we meant to go up and progress by not spending #clown

@haughycfc: Ridiculous, Talking about “fairness” but wants to disadvantage better teams just for being a division below. If it’s about fairness it should be about footballing ability. Plenty of national league teams are far superior to lower league 2 teams